Usually when writing about political events things move at a relatively steady pace. An event occurs, we scribe about it, a subsequent event happens after that, we write about it and so on and so on. However, with the “right to work” debate over at the Indiana General Assembly, events have been moving so quickly and so fluidly that by the time you began writing about one incident, the subsequent event had already taken place. So now that there is brief lull in the storm, let’s take a second to catch our breaths and see where we are and how close are we to this being over?

Right now, the Indiana Senate has just gone through second readings on the legislation. Democrats offered up a number of amendments, all of which were defeated. The most important amendment was a referendum. In a nutshell, if lawmakers approved RTW it would have gone into effect on Nov 5, the day before the election, however the voters would get their say on Nov 6 and if they voted it down, RTW would not go into effect. House Democrats have offered up a similar amendment scheduled to be heard on Monday, provided they show up.

No law shall be passed, the taking effect of which shall be made to depend upon any authority, except as provided in this Constitution.

And Article 4, Section 1.

The Legislative authority of the State shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The style of every law shall be: “Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana”; and no law shall be enacted, except by bill.

By allowing the public to chime in via referendum, Senate Republicans say the measure violates those two provisions and therefore would not pass Constitutional muster. Democrats say the only way a measure can be found unconstitutional is if a court makes that decision. And they also pointed to a number of measures whose constitutionality were debated on the floor, but later upheld by the court, i.e. school vocuhers.

The reality of this is as the Senate has moved forward and defeated the referendum amendment, it has given the House Republicans who might have been on the fence about an amendment to vote it down since they can now argue that the measure won’t pass the other chamber so there is no point in voting for it when the House is scheduled to take up the issue Monday afternoon.

Do not be surprised if RTW is passed out of both Chambers by the end of the week.

I kind of like the idea of making a referendum. It doesn’t have a chance of passing that AND it would shut Bauer up forever, at least on that one subject. A constitutional RTW amendment could be good.

Dave

Pacification of statists with obfuscatory maneuvers (inequitably / poorly drafted referenda), prolongs the problem at the expense of solution.

Remember the Wishard referendum, its Hallmark advocative, imbalanced premise & wording? Recently, it’s been reported that investors are cool to assumptions / assertions of its funding method (Fitch’s downgrading of Wishard bonds); general obligation (property tax collateralized with the citizens property, and not the hospital’s revenues), vs. revenue bonds (which would’ve been based on the hospital’s “advertised” strengths).

Look at the history of referenda in California. When the referee’s allowed to both “play” & manage the rules, guess who wins? The referenda process, as currently scripted, is rubber stamped CYA for a derelict GA (after all, they’re elected, to be representatives).

Pascal

The Wishard promoters and supporters were liars. We have an election coming up in November and that is sufficient. What makes me think that the early date of effectiveness for the RTW law might have something to do with job announcements conditional on its swift passage? That is, to be more clear, Mitch didn’t just fall off the pumpkin wagon.

Separation of Church and State

Advance Indiana is showing a press release that shows several church preaching on right to work. Each of them should immediately lose thier tax exempt status for breaching thier responsibilities under thier Indiana and federal tax filing rules requiring them to refrain from political activity.

Video would help in court.

Taxpayer

Democrat Mickey Mauer has an article in his Indianapolis Business Journal supporting the passage of Right to Work based upon his experience as head of the IEDC and talking with Site Selection professionals about lost opportunities.

Funny that Indiana teachers have had right to work for decades and all the new auto plants are non union too.

Taxpayer

Democrat Mickey Mauer has an article in his Indianapolis Business Journal supporting the passage of Right to Work based upon his experience as head of the IEDC and talking with Site Selection professionals about lost opportunities.

Funny that Indiana teachers have had right to work for decades and all the new auto plants are non union too.

Think Again

Jesus was the original neighborhood organizer. Just sayin’.

Think Again

Sometimes, Mickey is wrong. This is one of those times.

Think Again

I have a problem with revisionist history. Please tell me, Pascal, how this wording is lying:

“Shall the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana, issue bonds or enter into a lease to finance (insert the description of the project)?”

If you think the project was to grandiose, I’ll agree. But the referendum was hardly a lying escapade.

Rico

But his goal was not to divide the people, as today’s community organizer’s is. Take Barry for instance. Just sayin’.

Scooter

Cripes TA, for someone who trys to keep the Almighty out of virtually every facet of American life, you sure do like to envoke His name to make your point.

I win again.

Pascal

His experience vs. your experience? Have you had any difficulty purchasing hats recently? I’m subscribing to IBJ and can hardly wait for my first issue.

http://www.hairclipperssale.com/ nose hair trimmer

It used to be all the professional
man had to do was to make sure to shave every day and that would be enough.
This has changed over the years to make sure you do not have excessive hair in
such places as your eyebrows, ears or nose. This is why having a good nose and
ear hair trimmer is so important.